I have some good news for potential writers who have held off because the (relatively) low cost option of Lightning Source has some definite restrictions to do with size, paper type, and bindings. These restrictions are probably and justifiably due to the POD (Print on Demand) nature of their product–someone can order a single copy of a book and it is (I assume quite automatically) printed, bound, trimmed, and shipped.
I have just two days ago run across InstantPublisher. The company is also located in a small town in Tenessee, but does not deal in orders of less than 25 books, nor can books be supplied directly via Amazon. In return the company offers several choices that are not posslible with LS:
- Binding choices include several forms of spiral (lay flat) edges which are well suited for cookbooks.
- It seems that other sizes can be had by trimming afterwards…I think they produce the standard size book and then trim it smaller if requested.
- Interior paper choices include glossy in two weights and even card stock (for cookbooks?).
- Interior pages can be a mix of B&W and color…somehow the press identifies each page as it is printed and decides whether it needs the color inks. The cost of the two types of pages differs and this allows savings where only a few pages need to be color.
- Like LS, there are a number of cover choices.
- Finally, the costs per book seem comparable on first glance.
- They have gone to great length to be able to work with WORD manuscripts (modified on your own computer as part of the upload process)
So, any of you out there who MUST have spiral binding and partial color or glossy interiors, here is good news! Anyone want to be the first to try them?